Manawa couple accused of bringing child to burglary

October 15, 2014

After responding to a burglary reported at Siegel Enterprises in the town of Helvetia at 3:15 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, Waupaca County deputies arrested Lakeshia Van Straten, 22, and Andrew L. Schucknecht, 23, at the scene.

While searching the area for evidence, the deputies found a car belonging to Van Straten parked behind a neighboring business.

Inside the car was a frightened and crying 2-year-old child who had been left alone.

The child was taken to Riverside Medical Center for a checkup, then released to the Waupaca County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS).

Van Straten and Schucknecht were each charged Wednesday with two counts of burglary, two counts of theft and one count of child neglect.

Since July of this year, prosecutors have filed seven felony cases against Van Straten and six felony cases against Schucknecht. They both face a dozen charges of burglary, as well as forgery, theft and bail jumping.

On Wednesday, Judge Raymond Huber set a $5,000 cash bond as a condition of their release from custody. He also prohibited Van Straten and Schucknecht from having any contact with their child without prior approval by the court or DHHS.